Planting method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Seeds to be planted are gravity fed from a hopper to a substantially horizontal portion of an outlet tubing. At the appropriate time a blast of pressurized air ejects a measured amount of seeds into a furrow. Simultaneously, a discrete quantity of vermiculite is gravity fed into a horizontal compartment from which it is also pneumatically ejected with the seeds to form a common mass in the furrow. Subsequently, the vermiculite-seed mass is sprayed with liquid fertilizer and then sprayed with an asphalt stabilizer. A further aspect is the provision of a plurality of such apparatus disposed transversely of the furrows with timed commutators providing planting locations of adjacent furrows in a staggered arrangement. An improved vermiculite dispensing apparatus is provided for metering the discrete quantity of vermiculite which is pneumatically expelled. The dispenser comprises a vertical delivery tube and a horizontal dispensing tube which join to form a generally inverted T-shaped volumetric measuring structure. The lower rear end of the vertical delivery tube tapers inwardly and extends partially into the dispensing tube.

United States Patent Williams [54] PLANTING METHOD AND APPARATUS DavidM. Williams, Salinas, Calif.

Bruce Church, lnc., Salinas, Calif.

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

[ Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Sept. 16,1986, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1969 21 Appl. No.: 795,321

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.559,562, June 22,

1966, Pat. No. 3,467,278.

[52] [1.8. CI ..222/136, 222/178, 222/193, 111/6 [51] Int. Cl ..B67d5/52 [58] Field of Search 45] *Apr. 4, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 616,929 8/1935 Germany ..222/193 832,854 10/1938 France..222/177 21,283 1l/l895 Great Britain ..222/571 [5 7] ABSTRACT Seeds tobe planted are gravity fed from a hopper to a substantially horizontalportion of an outlet tubing. At the appropriate time a blast ofpressurized air ejects a measured amount of seeds into a furrow.Simultaneously, a discrete quantity of vermiculite is gravity fed into ahorizontal compartment from which it is also pneumatically ejected withthe seeds to form a common mass in the furrow. Subsequently, thevermiculiteseed mass is sprayed with liquid fertilizer and then sprayedwith an asphalt stabilizer. A further aspect is the provision of aplurality of such apparatus disposed transversely of the furrows withtimed commutators providing planting locations of adjacent furrows in astaggered arrangement.

An improved vermiculite dispensing apparatus is provided for meteringthe discrete quantity of vermiculite which is pneumatically expelled.The dispenser comprises a vertical delivery tube and a horizontaldispensing tube which join to form a generally inverted T-shapedvolumetric measuring structure. The lower rear end of the verticaldelivery tube tapers inwardly and extends partially into the dispensingtube.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATEMTEDAPR 4|972 3,653,550

sum 3 OF 3 T iix than those disclosed herein. The invention shouldtherefore not be limited to those so disclosed. However, the inventionhas been found to possess exceptional utility in the planting of a foodcrop and especially head lettuce, broccoli and the like.

In the past, it has been the practice to plant head lettuce seed inclosely spaced relation all along a furrow in the earth. In such a case,it is also conventional to cover the seed with vermiculite to aerate, tofacilitate germination and to prevent crust formation of the ground overa planted seed after a rain. This is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.2,909,867.

The prior art method of planting is disadvantageous for several reasons.Seed is planted very close together in order to insure a full stand.However this is expensive because both seed and vermiculite areexpensive and an excessive use of either one is wasteful. Further, aftera stand is established, the crop must be thinned out.

It is also a disadvantage of the prior art method that, in most cases,the thinning of the crop must be done by hand labor and this is bothcostly and time consuming.

If head lettuce were planted by hand, appropriate accurate spacing ofheads could be maintained if some care were used in planting. However,it is not economical to plant by hand. That is, head lettuce must bemachine planted. Further, if sufficient accuracy could be maintained inmachine planting, any thinning could also be done by machine. Thinningis generally a necessity even if the best planting methods are used. Thereason for thinning is that more than enough seed must be planted toinsure a full stand. However, when several seeds are planted in onelocation, more than one plant frequently comes up.

Machine planting is difficult because a crosswind can blow seed offcourse as it is falling out of the machine onto the ground. Wind alsooften blows both seed and vermiculite completely outside of the furrow.

In order to overcome the wind problem in spreading other materials overthe ground, it has been the practice to coat the materials with astabilizer which is an asphalt emulsion in water. This is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 2,844,914. However, such materials are blown through a fogor mist or the like. It is not possible to accurately control thedirection in which these materials are blown because they are sticky.

There are also other disadvantages of planting machines of the priorart. For those which utilize seed dispensers including mechanicalmetering devices and moving parts near the ground, abrasion and wearbecome problems. Dirt also can cause maintenance problems.

In accordance with the present invention, the abovedescribed and otherdisadvantages of the prior art are overcome by providing a machine whichis operated to plant a few seeds at accurately spaced locations in afurrow.

It is also a feature of the present invention that vermiculite or otherbulky organic or inorganic material may be dispensed in individualquantities over the seeds. Due to the periodic method and the accuratespacings which are maintained between seed locations, it is possible, inaccordance with the present invention, to save considerable seed andvermiculite. For example, from two to five head lettuce seeds may beplanted at one location. In a furrow, the seed locations may be spaced12 inches apart.

Due to the fact that several seeds are planted at one location inaccordance with the present invention, it is still possible for morethan one head to grow in the same location. For this reason, the cropmust be thinned.

It is a feature of the present invention that the machine thereof isaccurately timed or synchronized to deposit one material on top ofanother. Thus, one machine may be employed to accomplish severalfunctions. For example, in succession, seed may be deposited;vermiculite may be deposited on top of the seed; a liquid fertilizer maybe deposited on top of the vermiculite; and a liquid stabilizer may bedeposited on top of the fertilizer. All these steps may also beperformed in succession and not simultaneously. However, it has beenfound that with no apparent disadvantage, the seed and vermiculite canbe dispensed simultaneously. Further, the use of a machine to accomplishall of these functions is unusually efficient and accurate.

It is an outstanding feature of the present invention that a blast ofgas under pressure is employed, namely, air, to deposit the seed andvermiculite. Seed is therefore located in positions which are accuratelyspaced. Due to the fact that the blast of air carries the seed andvermiculite at a velocity much greater than that of any ambient wind, nocrosswind can blow the seed off its course in falling out of the machineinto a furrow.

As stated previously, it is possible to employ a stabilizer for thevermiculite and seed. It is in fact an outstanding feature of thepresent invention that the stabilizer is sprayed on top of thefertilized seed which has been covered with vermiculite. Unlike-theprior art method of coating a material witha stabilizer before it isdispensed, the method of the present invention employs a .successivestep of depositing a stabilizer on the seed.

In accordance with another outstanding feature of the present invention,a vertical gravity feed is employed for seed and vermiculite dispensers.The only force needed, therefore, to operate these dispensers iscompressed air and a solenoid valveto' allow the air to escape. Due tothis construction, the device of the present invention really has nomechanical metering device or moving parts near the ground. Abrasion andwear are therefore kept to a minimum. Further, dirt can cause no seriousproblem in the maintenance of the equipment because the moving parts inthe solenoid valve are in effect self-cleaning because the escape of thecompressed air keeps the solenoid valve clean.

The above-described and other advantages of the present invention willbe better understood from the following description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine constructed in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a-transverse sectional view of a portion of the machine shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the machine shown in FIGS. I and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of a vermiculite andseed dispensing apparatus useful in the machine shown in FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4

The machine of the present invention is indicated at 10 in FIG. 1.Machine 10 is carried on a chassis 11 which may be pulled as a trailer.A pair of disc openers 12 are mounted on chassis 11 for each seeddispenser.

Chassis 11 is supported on a pair of wheels 13, one of which is shown.Chassis 11 may also be supported upon two wheels, not shown,symmetrically below a vermiculite hopper 14 and in longitudinalalignment with wheels 13. An additional pair of wheels may also beemployed at each end of hopper 14, if desired.

As shown in FIG. 1, wheel 13 has a sprocket I5 fixed thereto. A linkage16 extends from the axis of sprocket 15 to the axis of a second sprocket17. Similarly, a linkage 18 extends from the axis of sprocket 17 to theaxis of a third sprocket l9. Sprocket I7 is a double sprocket andreceives a chain 20 from around sprocket l5 and a chain 21 from aroundsprocket 19. Sprocket 19 is keyed to-and drives a synchronizing shaft 22as will be explained.

Chain 21 and sprocket 19 with shaft 22 are shown in FIG. 3. Shaft 22rotates a pair of c'ommutators 23 and 24.

The machine of the present invention is employed to plant head lettuceseed in eight adjacent furrows synchronously and at one time. However,structure for planting more than two furrows are identical to the otherstructures. For this reason, a structure for planting only two adjacentfurrows are disclosed in detail.

In particular, commutators 23 and 24 are employed to energize twodifferent sets of solenoid valves so as to plant seed in one furrow sixinches longitudinally spaced from seed planted in adjacent furrow. Forexample, commutator 23 operates solenoid valve 25. Commutator 24operates solenoid valve 26.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, seed is retained in a seed hopper 27. Twosuch seed hoppers 27 and 28 are shown in FIG. 3. A few seed are droppeddown vertical gravity feed tubes 29 and 30 by two corresponding brushtype distributors 31 and 32 which are conventionally geared to shaft 22.Commutators 23 and 24 are also conventionally geared to shaft 22.Commutators 23 and 24 are connected from an electrical source ofpotential 23'.

As stated previously, a few head lettuce seed are deposited in locationslocated one food apart in a furrow. Thus, in the travel of the machine10 one linear foot forward, ample opportunity is provided fordistributors 31 and 32 to drop a few head lettuce seed to horizontalsurfaces 33 and 34 in tubes 35 and 36, respectively. Tube 35 has ahorizontal portion 37, a bend at 38, a downwardly and rearwardlyextending portion 39, and an opening 40. Tube 36 has portions 41, 42 43and 44 identical to portions 37, 38, 39 and 40, respectively, of tube35.

When machine 10 arrives at a location in which seed should be planted,solenoid valve 26 is normally closed. However, in that position,commutator 24 energizes solenoid valve 26 and allows a blast of air tobe expelled through tube 35. This blows the seed from surface 33 out ofopening into a furrow. The air is supplied by a compressor 45 which isconnected to a tank 46 at 47. Tank 46 is in turn connected to valves 25and 26 through a pipe 48.

Vermiculite is dispensed at the same time that seed is dispensed. Adispenser 49 is provided for the vermiculite. However, no positive means(such as distributors 31 and 32 which are provided for the seed) areprovided to meter the vermiculite into dispenser 49. On the contrary,vermiculite hopper 14 is simply filled to the top and, before it isexpelled, occupies the space below the lower end of hopper 14 asindicated at 50 and 51. Alternatively, individual vermiculite hoppersmay be provided as indicated at 52 for vermiculite dispenser 53.

When valve 26 is energized, a blast of air is likewise introduced intothe dispenser 49. This blows a metered quantity of vermiculite against adeflector 54 and down on the ground covering the seed dispensed fromtube 35.

Seed and vermiculite are dispensed in an identical manner through theuse of valve 25, except that commutator 23 operates valve 25 at timesmidway between the operation of solenoid valve 26.

The details of a vermiculite and seed dispensing apparatus 100particularly adapted for use in the machine 10 is shown in FIGS. 4 and5. The apparatus 100 includes a vermiculite dispenser 102 having a seeddispenser 104 mounted thereon by brackets 106 and 108. A two waysolenoid valve 109 is electrically connected to commutator 23 or 24(FIG. 3) and selectively admits air under pressure from compressor 45and tank 46 (FIG. 3) to the vermiculite and seed dispensers 102 and 104to expel metered quantities of vermiculite and seed in a mannerdescribed in detail hereinafter.

The vermiculite dispenser 102 comprises a generally vertically extendingdelivery tube 110 having an open upper end 112 which receivesvermiculite from hopper 14 or 52 (FIG. 3) and a lower end whichcommunicates with a generally horizontally extending dispensing tube116. Apertured flanges 118, 120 and 122 are provided on the deliverytube for mounting the vermiculite dispenser on a suitable part of themachine 10 and mounting the seed dispenser 104 on the vermiculitedispenser.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the lower rear portion of the delivery tubetapers inwardly at 124 and projects downwardly into the dispensing tube116 at 126. As will be described more fully hereinafter, the projection126 and the narrowed lower portion of the delivery tube 110 function toprevent pressurized air from flowing up into the delivery tube whenblasts of air are admitted to the dispensing tube to expel vermiculitetherefrom.

The rear end 130 of the dispensing tube 116 communicate via a tubularfitting 132, pipe joint 134 and solenoid valve 109 with the air tank 46and compressor 45 (FIG. 3). The forward end 136 of the dispensing tube116 is provided with a forwardly and downwardly projecting deflector 138for directing metered quantities of vermiculite onto the ground.

The seed dispenser 104 includes a generally vertically extending seeddelivery tube 140 which narrows at 142 and feeds into one of the upperlegs of a generally Y-shaped joint 144. The other upper leg of Y-joint144 is connected via a tube 146, the pipe joint 134 and solenoid valve109 to the air tank 46 and the compressor 45 (FIG. 3). The lower leg ofY- joint 144 is connected to a seed dispensing tube 148 which terminatesjust forward of the vermiculite dispenser deflector 138.

In operation, vermiculite is gravity fed from the vermiculite hopper 14or 52 (FIG. 3), through the delivery tube 110 and into the dispensingtube 116. The width and depth of the vermiculite dispensing tube 116 andthe angle of repose of the vermiculite in the tube form a volumetricmeasuring device which meters a discrete quantity of vermiculite to beexpelled from the dispensing tube when a blast of air is admittedthereto by the solenoid valve 109. Simultaneously, a metered quantity ofseed is fed from seed hopper 27 or 28 (FIG. 3) into the upper end of theseed delivery tube 140 by a brush type distributor 31 or 32 (FIG. 3) orother suitable metering means (e.g., a simple rotating flat plate, nowshown). The seed drops through the Y-joint 144 and onto the horizontallyextending portion of the seed dispensing tube 148. When the solenoidvalve 109 is energized by the commutator 23 or 24, blasts of air underpressure will be admitted through pipe joint 134 and tubes 132 and 146to the vermiculite and seed dispensing tubes 116 and 148, respectively,to expel the vermiculite and seed onto the ground in a substantiallyunitary mass. After each blast of air, additional measured quantities orvermiculite and seed will drop into their respective dispensing tubes tobe expelled by the next air blast. As noted above, each time thevermiculite drops into the vermiculite dispensing tube 116 and reaches astatic condition the dimensions of the dispensing tube and the angle ofrepose of the vermiculite define a measured quantity of vermiculitewhich will be expelled by the next blast of air. The downwardlyextending projection 126 and the tapered lower portion 124 of thevermiculite delivery tube 110 cooperate to direct the air blast throughthe vermiculite dispensing tube 116 and prevent any significant amountof air from blowing upwardly into the vermiculite delivery tube.

As shown in FIG. 3, liquid fertilizer is dispensed from a tank 55. Apiston type positive displacement pump 57 draws the fertilizer from tank55 through a check valve 58. At the same time, check valves 59 and 60 atnozzles 61 and 62 close. Pump 57 then fills. The fertilizer in pump 57is forced through check valves 59 and 60 and through nozzles 61 and 62.

Note will be taken that on the chassis 11 of the machine 10, tubes 35and 36 are not in longitudinal alignment. They are in transversealignment. The same is true of dispensers 49 and 53.

Similarly, none of the nozzles 61 are in longitudinal alignment withnozzles 62. The reason for this will be apparent hereinafter.

A stabilizer which is an asphalt emulsion in water is dispensed from atank 63 through check valves 64, 65, and 66, and nozzles 67 and 68. Apositive displacement pump 69 identical to pump 57 is employed for thispurpose. Pumps 57 and 69 are conventional.

As before, nozzles 67 are not in longitudinal alignment with nozzle 68.Nozzles 67 are employed for one set of furrows.

Nozzles 68 are employed for furrows alternate to those for which nozzles67 are employed. Similarly, nozzles 62 are employed for furrows whichare alternate for those which nozzles 61 are employed. The forward andrear spacing of nozzles 61 and 62 and nozzles 67 and 68 are employed todispense fertilizer and stabilizer on the same spots in adjacent rows.However, since seed is planted in one furrow midway between where it isplanted in an adjacent furrow, and due to the fact that pump 57dispenses fertilizer from both nozzles 61 and 62 at the same time,nozzles 61 and 62 must be spaced longitudinally apart. The same is trueof nozzles 67 and 68.

As shown in FIG. 1, nozzles 61 and 62 are fed by a header 70. Nozzles 67and 68 are fed by a header 71.

As stated previously, the use of a stabilizer is made to prevent seedand vermiculite from blowing away. Both seed and vermiculite may, infact, be blown completely out of a furrow in which they are dispensedsimply by ambient wind.

In general, the stabilizer should dry to a light cake which can act as abinder to the seed and vermiculite particles. How ever, the binder cakeshould not be so firm that it will not eventually break up. None ofthese stabilizer requirements are critical, and any conventional mulchsuch as asphalt or any caking or other binder, may be employed for thestabilizer of the present invention.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the method of thepresent invention including the steps of planting a few head lettuceseeds in accurately spaced locations, is unusually advantageous forseveral reasons. In the first place, only a few seeds are planted inspaced locations. This saves both seed and vermiculite. Further, anyplace where more than one head of lettuce grows can be trimmed from thecrop. In particular, the crop may be thinned with a minimum amount ofhand labor which is a saving both in expense and time. Because of theregular intervals of planting, and the high percentage of plantsseparate from others, the labor requirements for hand thinning isgreatly reduced.

In accordance with an outstanding feature of the present invention, afew head lettuce seed are planted accurately in spaced locations, andthe seed are planted by a machine. The accuracy of the planting and theentire mechanization of the operation makes it less expensive and makesit possible to plant at a reasonable rate of speed.

It is also an outstanding feature of the present invention thatcompressed air in tank 46 is employed to dispense seed from tubes 35 and36, and to expel vermiculite from dispensers 49 and 53. This accuratelyplaces the seed and vermiculite in the furrow indicated at 72 in FIG. 2,where they ought to be. An ambient crosswind therefore cannot blow theseed and vermiculite off course as the seed and vermiculite fall or areblown out of tubes 35 and 36 and dispensers 49 and 53.

After the seeds 73, 74 and 75 have been deposited in furrow 72 andvermiculite 76, 77 and 78 has been deposited on top of seeds 73, 74 and75, liquid fertilizer at 79 is sprayed on top of the vermiculite andstabilizer 80 is sprayed on top of fertilizer 79. Stabilizer 80therefore keeps the vermiculite and seed from being blown out of furrow72.

Further, by applying stabilizer 80 to the fertilized seed andvermiculite, both seed and vermiculite may be moved out of tubes 35 and36 and leave dispensers 49 and 53 dry. Thus, they may be moved quicklyand accurately by the use of compressed air to their particularlocations. In this regard, it is somewhat striking that the same valve26 may be employed to use air both to expel seed and vermiculite andthat the seed will become effectively buried in or buried beneath thevermiculite even though both are dispensed approximately at the sametime in accordance with the present invention.

Due to the fact that no mechanical metering devices are used near theground, and that there are no considerable moving parts near the ground,abrasion and wear do not become problems. Further, dirt is not amaintenance problem. One of the reasons for this is that valve 26, bycontrolling compressed air, in efiect is self-cleaning.

Although only one specific embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed and illustrated herein, many changes and modifications will ofcourse suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. This singleembodiment has been selected for this disclosure for the purpose ofillustration only. The present invention should therefore not be limitedto the embodiment so selected, the true scope of the invention beingdefined only in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A dispensing apparatus for intermittently and simultaneouslyexpelling separate discrete measured quantities of granular material,comprising:

a source of pressurized gas;

automatically operable valve means connected to said source ofpressurized gas; and

first and second dispensing units;

said first dispensing unit comprising: a firs generally horizontallyextending dispensing tube having an open forward end through whichmaterial to be dispensed is expelled, and an open rear end operativelyconnected to said automatically operable valve means; and a first,generally vertically extending delivery tube having an open upper endadapted to be connected to a first supply of granular material to bedispensed, and an open lower end connected to said first dispensing tubebetween its said forward and rear ends and communicating with theinterior thereof;

said second dispensing unit comprising a second dispensing tube havingan open lower end through which material to be dispensed is expelled,and an open upper end operatively connected to said automaticallyoperative valve means; and a second delivery tube having an open upperend adapted to be connected to a second supply of granular material tobe dispensed, and an open lower end connected to said second dispensingtube;

whereby, when said automatically operable valve means is opened,communication will be simultaneously established between said source ofpressurized gas and said first and second dispensing tubes to expelgranular material in the said dispensing tubes.

2. In a planting machine comprising a chassis and a set of wheels forsupporting said chassis for moving said chassis over the ground, theimprovement comprising:

granular material storage means connected to said chassis;

dispensing means for intermittently dispensing a discrete quantity ofgranular material from said storage means onto the ground; and meansoperatively connected between said granular material dispensing meansand said chassis wheels for operating said dispensing means in responseto the rotation of said wheels;

liquid supply means on said chassis; liquid dispersing means connectedto said liquid supply means; pump means connected to said chassis wheelsand operable in response to rotation of said wheels to pump liquid fromsaid liquid storage means to said liquid dispensing means in response torotation of said chassis wheels; and check valve means disposed betweensaid liquid storage means and said pump means; said check valve meansbeing normally biased closed to prevent leakage of liquid from saidliquid storage means; said check valve being operable by said pump meansto permit the pumping of liquid from said liquid storage means to saidliquid dispensing means;

said granular material dispensing means being spaced from said liquiddispensing means; and

means operatively connected to said chassis wheels for operating saidpump means to intermittently dispense liquid on discrete quantities ofgranular material dispensed onto the ground by said granular materialdispensing means.

1. A dispensing apparatus for intermittently and simultaneouslyexpelling separate discrete measured quantities of granular material,comprising: a source of pressurized gas; automatically operable valvemeans connected to said source of pressurized gas; and first and seconddispensing units; said first dispensing unit comprising: a firsgenerally horizontally extending dispensing tube having an open forwardend through which material to be dispensed is expelled, and an open rearend operatively connected to said automatically operable valve means;and a first, generally vertically extending delivery tube having an openupper end adapted to be connected to a first supply of granular materiaLto be dispensed, and an open lower end connected to said firstdispensing tube between its said forward and rear ends and communicatingwith the interior thereof; said second dispensing unit comprising asecond dispensing tube having an open lower end through which materialto be dispensed is expelled, and an open upper end operatively connectedto said automatically operative valve means; and a second delivery tubehaving an open upper end adapted to be connected to a second supply ofgranular material to be dispensed, and an open lower end connected tosaid second dispensing tube; whereby, when said automatically operablevalve means is opened, communication will be simultaneously establishedbetween said source of pressurized gas and said first and seconddispensing tubes to expel granular material in the said dispensingtubes.
 2. In a planting machine comprising a chassis and a set of wheelsfor supporting said chassis for moving said chassis over the ground, theimprovement comprising: granular material storage means connected tosaid chassis; dispensing means for intermittently dispensing a discretequantity of granular material from said storage means onto the ground;and means operatively connected between said granular materialdispensing means and said chassis wheels for operating said dispensingmeans in response to the rotation of said wheels; liquid supply means onsaid chassis; liquid dispersing means connected to said liquid supplymeans; pump means connected to said chassis wheels and operable inresponse to rotation of said wheels to pump liquid from said liquidstorage means to said liquid dispensing means in response to rotation ofsaid chassis wheels; and check valve means disposed between said liquidstorage means and said pump means; said check valve means being normallybiased closed to prevent leakage of liquid from said liquid storagemeans; said check valve being operable by said pump means to permit thepumping of liquid from said liquid storage means to said liquiddispensing means; said granular material dispensing means being spacedfrom said liquid dispensing means; and means operatively connected tosaid chassis wheels for operating said pump means to intermittentlydispense liquid on discrete quantities of granular material dispensedonto the ground by said granular material dispensing means.